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Berlin Travel Basics

Nuts-and-bolts information to plan your trip, plus a checklist of essentials to include when you pack and a list of links to local media

Planning

Entry Requirements: U.S. citizens need a valid passport to enter Germany and can stay up to 90 days without a visa.

Security: Chances of becoming a victim of petty theft, assault, or other crime are lower in Berlin than in most other big cities. Still, it won’t hurt to take all the usual precautions, such as stashing valuables in the hotel safe and keeping an eye on your belongings. In case of emergency, dial the police at 110.

Phone Calls: Berlin’s area code is 030. For calls from the U.S., dial 011-49-30 plus the local number. To phone the U.S. from Berlin, dial 001 followed by the area code and phone number.

When to Go: The best time to visit Berlin is from May to October when life moves outdoors, days are long and warm (70-90°F or 20-30°C), and festivals brighten daily life. Rain is a possibility any time of year, but more common between November and April.

Getting There: Berlin’s two international airports (Tegel and Schönefeld) are served by several international carriers. The only direct flights from the U.S. are from New York; coming from another city requires a change of planes in Frankfurt, Amsterdam, London, or another European city.

Getting Around: Driving in Berlin is on the right, but the city is best explored by public transportation, a combination of subway, light rail, buses, and trams. The average taxi fare to the city center is $28 from Tegel and $42 from Schönefeld.

Checklist

Advance Reservations: Tickets to the opera, philharmonic orchestra, and major touring acts often sell out quickly. For upcoming events and advance tickets, contact the Berlin tourist office (www.visitberlin.de).

ATM Card: “Cash is king in Berlin.”—Jeremy Gray, co-author, National Geographic Traveler: Berlin. Credit card use is not nearly as widespread in Berlin as it is in the U.S., so always carry a couple hundred euros in cash to pay for most restaurant meals, admission, tickets, drinks, cab fare, services, and purchases. Hotels and gas stations usually accept credit cards. Travelers’ checks are not common and must be exchanged into cash at banks or currency offices.

Comfortable Shoes: “Berlin just begs to be explored on foot.”—Henrik Tidefjärd, owner Berlinagenten custom tours and travel services. Many of Berlin’s plum sights cluster right in the city center and intriguing hidden spots lurk behind doors and in courtyards only found at street level.

Dressy Clothing: Berliners dress casually but not without style. If you’re wearing shorts, a T-shirt, and sneakers to the opera or a fancy restaurant, you’ll likely feel underdressed. “And definitely lose that baseball cap if you want to blend in.”—Henrik Tidefjärd.

Medications: Aside from all prescription medicine, also pack an emergency stash of over-the-counter pain medication, upset stomach medicine, anti-allergy pills, or whatever else you may need. Many medications easily available in U.S. drugstores are only sold in Berlin pharmacies (if at all) and may require a doctor’s prescription. Non-emergency medical referrals are available at “Call a Doc” (tel. 01804 2255 2362).

Travel Adaptors: Standard voltage is 220 volts versus 110 volts in the U.S. Most cameras, phones, and laptops work on both voltages but require a German outlet adaptor with two round pins.

Tri-Band Cell Phone: Unless your U.S. cell phone is compatible with the European GSM 900/1800 standard, you won’t be able to use it in Berlin. If it is, save by buying a prepaid, rechargeable SIM card with a local number; rates start at $29.

Umbrella or Raincoat: “You never know when it’s going to rain, even in summer.”—Jeremy Gray. Berlin weather can be unpredictable, and the average annual rainfall is 23 inches (58 centimeters).

Web Links

Berlin Airports

Details about facilities, parking, services and travel to and from any of Berlin’s airports. www.berlin-airport.de

Well-respected weekly national news magazine in the mold of Time or Newsweek with in-depth coverage of national and international politics, culture, health, trends, and business. See online edition for select articles in English. www.spiegel.de

TIP

Comprehensive biweekly city magazine similar to Zitty but targeted to a slightly older, more mainstream readership. www.tip.de

Zitty

Biweekly city magazine with up-to-the-minute coverage of local themes, events, and trends; reviews of restaurants, music, movies. Excellent source for information on nightlife. www.zitty.de